TEC

The Commonweal of Isloria, also known as the Equitable Commonweal, is the nation state of the Islorian Isles. It is the successor state to the Kingdom of Isloria.

Overview
The political movement that helped to spur the Islorian Civil War which culminated with the downfall of the monarchy and the rise of the Commonweal. Its members are known as Equitists.

Ideology
The Equitists are committed to popular sovereignty, extended suffrage, equality before the law and religious tolerance. The hallmark of Equitist thought is its populism, as shown by its emphasis on equal natural rights, and their practice of reaching the public through pamphlets, petitions and vocal appeals to the people.

The movement has brought numerous social, political, and judicial reforms to the land, such as the right to silence and an elected local judiciary. In addition, it has extended suffrage to all citizens aged 18 years and older, an end to imprisonment for debt, the abolition of such corrupt practises as patronage and monopolies, the toleration of religious differences, and the translation of law into the common tongue.

Grand Secretary
The leader of the Commonwealth, elected by the legislature from among a maximum of five nominees using the two-round system. Aside from being chief executive of the land, they are also the sole person in the land who can grant pardons from serious crimes, which are absolute and binding. They and their spouse reside at Plymford House (also known as the House of the Executive) in the Cupper Park district of Alnerwick. They serve a five-year term and can be re-elected once.

Council of State
The advisory body which counsels the Grand Secretary. It has eleven members. All policy decisions and actions the Grand Secretary would take must have the support of a majority of its members. Their term (and the limits thereupon) run concurrent to that of the Grand Secretary, whom they meet with weekly at Plymford House.

Chamber of Delegates
The unicameral legislative body of the Commonwealth, which consists of 185 deputies, each representing a single district and elected through direct universal suffrage by all citizens of 18 years age and older every five years. A candidate for the Chamber must be at least 25 years of age and a born citizen of the Commonweal. The legislature meets in Arvendon House (also known as the House of the Legislature), for six months each year between mid-Spring and late Autumn. Following each election, the Chamber is sworn into office in a ceremony which takes place one week prior to the start of that year’s session on what is known as Inauguration Day. They meet at Arvendon House (also known as the House of the Legislature) in the Rosebank district of Alnerwick.

All laws in the land must be proposed, debated, and voted upon by the Assembly. All bills must be approved by a simple majority of at least 94 deputies to pass. Bills so approved then go to the Grand Secretary for their signature, which sets them into law. No law in the Commonweal may be undone but by a further act of the Chamber. The body operates in accordance with the beliefs and practises of the Equitist movement.

Three political factions are represented within the Assembly - the Civilists (promotes public participation and the involvement of civic and voluntary associations in government), the Reformists (who call for greater reform of government, elimination of remaining patronage, an increase of local interests in national politics, and increased expansion of industry), and the Welfarists (valuing emphasis on the interests of the common folk and the workers, and strengthening the welfare system that supports those in need).

Court of Final Appeal
The final appellate court of the Commonweal. It consists of nine members - the president of the court and eight senior magistrates - who hear cases that have passed through the Courts of Common Pleas at the municipal, district, and county levels. Their membership is nominated by the Grand Secretary and approved by the Chamber of Delegates. They meet and hear cases at Selsmire House (also known as the House of the Judiciary) in the Rosebank district of Alnerwick.

Local Government
Every city, town, and village of the Commonweal has an identical structure of government, which was standardised when the new nation was inaugurated. Each municipality is governed directly by a mayor and council of burgesses which are popularly elected every four years. They are assisted by a small group of officials responsible for important local affairs, including: the treasurer, responsible for managing local funds and their disbursement for needed projects; the registrar, who handles local records including deeds, titles, and certificates for births, deaths, and marriage; the sheriff, who oversees the constabulary of the municipality and law enforcement; and, the clerk of works, who manages upkeep of roads, bridges, and other important infrastructure within the municipality.

Offices of State
The administrative structure of the Commonwealth is built around a series of Offices of State, each of which is responsible for management of a particular area of concern and importance.


 * Foreign Office
 * War Office
 * Judicial Office
 * Tax Office
 * Imprest Office
 * Works Office

Army
The land forces of the Commonwealth are known as the Grand Army. It consists of 24,000 foot comprising twenty regiments of 1,200 troopers each, 6,000 cavalry divided into ten units of 600 men, and 1,600 dragoons divided into four units of 400 men each for a total force of 31,600 soldiers. The Army uses a range of armament. Heavy weaponry includes the cannon, demi-cannon, and mortar. Personal weaponry includes the flintlock rifle and flintlock pistol, pike, sword, and dagger.

The Army is divided into three regional forces of 7,200 infantry, 1,800 cavalry, and 400 dragoons, each commanded by a major general. Overall, the army is commanded by the lieutenant general. The officers at both of these ranks are appointed by the Grand Secretary with the approval of the Chamber of Delegates and serve a term of three years.

Society of Diligence
The prevailing religious and social belief system of the Commonwealth, the Society was the driving force behind the Glorious Revolution which overthrew the monarchy and established a republican democracy within the Isles.

The common beliefs of the Society are simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship. Faithful of the Society, known as Diligents, are known for the simplicity of their traditions. The core concept of the Society's beliefs is that of covenant, that is, each person has the right to seek their own personal relationship with the Creator. This is achieved through prayer and the reading of holy scripture, done in both community services and the home in private communion.

Diligents firmly believe that proper worship of the Creator stems from simple, earnest means. There is no lavish architecture or ostentatious ornamentation in their chapels. Furnishings are likewise simple and functional. The clergy, known as parsons, are the foremost religious figure in their individual parishes, which encompass a village or town and the immediately surrounding area. Larger towns and cities have multiple parsons, each one leading a parish which typically consists of a neighbourhood or borough of the town or city.

Area
The nation has a land area of 233,062 square miles. Approximately 5.4% of this area is water.

Population
As of the first day of 1650, the nation has a population of 12.3 million.

Capital
The city of Alnerwick is capital of the Commonwealth, with a current population of 173,000. It is the largest city in the nation.

Locations

 * House of the Assembly
 * Prosperity Plaza
 * Harper’s Grocery Nº 6

Cities
Alnerwick, Bandor, Basinford, Galenholm, Highcross, Lockhaven, Portmore, Riverview, Roseminster, Wincanton, Winvale

Towns
Aspern Tallow, Binwell, Potsgrove, Finchmere, Gillingham, Long Stratton, Willesden, Goldacre, Stillwick, Chepstow, Leominster, Sanslow, Edgewater, Grimminster, Grantmore, Oldgate, Ampleforth

Villages
Bow Clayton, Morton Fendle, Badger's Drift, Upper Warden, Lower Warden, Cringleford, Ferne Basset, Lower Pampling, Monks Barton, Mereworth, Calchester, Holverston, Wigston, Oxwell, Great Pelfe, Little Upton, Marlingford, Exhampton, Alverton, Croford, Denton, Swinford, Mulbarton, Wicklewood, Holsworthy, Craydon, Burwood Mantle

Social hierarchy
There are three classes of people within the Commonwealth - gentlefolk, yeomen, and commonfolk. They are universally addressed as "goodman" or "goodwife" (or "goody" if unmarried). While their means and assets may vary, all are recognised as equal under the law and given the same courtesy and treatment before it. This aspect of the law of the nation is absolute and no act or effort, legal or otherwise, can override this protection.

Gentlefolk are those well-to-do men and women born of prominent families of good social standing and wealth, who do not need to work for a living. They are often those who own extensive land (several dozen up to several hundred acres) and a large, comfortable house. They direct the larger and more prominent businesses of the Commonwealth and are an active part of the economy of the nation.

The yeomanry is frequently referred to as the "middle class" of the Commonweal. This class consists of various groups of skilled craftsmen, merchants, and others like who own a medium sized house and plot of land. They will employ several workers to tend their lands. Those yeomen who dwell in the cities of the land own a townhouse and are commonly respected merchants or tradesfolk who maintain modest but successful businesses in a variety of fields.

Commonfolk are the everyday people of the Commonweal and comprise the largest portion of its population. Most own a small home or set of rooms in a common house within the towns and cities. They are not particularly wealthy but have the means to provide for their needs through honest work, working either on the farms or in the businesses of the yeomanry or gentlefolk, who pay them a regular wage in exchange for their service.

Calendar

 * Spring
 * Germination (Plantings)
 * Flower (Flowering)
 * Meadow (Meadow’s Rise)
 * Summer
 * Harvest (First Harvest)
 * Summer Heat (Midyear)
 * Fruit (High Sun)
 * Autumn
 * Vintage (Second Harvest)
 * Mist (Autumn Mist)
 * Frost (First Frost)
 * Winter
 * Snowy (Snowfall)
 * Rainy
 * Windy

Agreement of the People
The manifesto of the Equitist movement which led the Green Revolution.

Instrument of Government
The constitution of the Commonweal, it delineates the important offices and positions of the government, their respective duties, and their responsibilities in respect to one another.

Courts

 * To call a witness -
 * "Let Emma Bowen come forward." summoned citizen does so  "I thank you."

Constabulary

 * Protecting the people, protecting our values, protecting our prosperity.

Companies

 * R. J. Pickwick LTD
 * G. W. Dillingham Company
 * Excelsior Meats Company
 * Cunningham Studios
 * Wickens LTD

Literature

 * The People’s Voice
 * Directory of National Biography

Power
Magic is defined as those powers derived from the ability to wield limited control over the natural energies of the land itself, manipulating them for a variety of effects. All practitioners of magic are known as witches.

Practitioners
A properly trained witch is one who has studied magick in the Arcanum, the official school of mysticism operating in the Commonweal under State charter. These men and women, highly educated and practised in their arts, wield their powers in aid of the people and communities of the land. There is at least one witch living in every town and village in the nation. Some witches, however, wield their powers for more selfish means, being particularly skilled in charms meant to inflict harm and bewitch the mind. Their motivations can be wide and varied, though wealth and power, as well as searching out forbidden arcane literature and artifacts are the most common goals that they pursue.